awake & free: I Am Not A Mermaid {Lindsey}

Recently, I was babysitting a precious girl named Abi. She is not a baby; sometimes I feel like she’s older than me.

After arriving in the morning, we sat side by side reading our own devotionals while her funny, attention-hungry Chihuahua lay across my lap. I’ve never liked Chihuahuas but now I do.

Then we got in the pool and lay on rafts for an hour while having quality conversation. We had said that when we went back inside, we would eat pizza and watch a movie--best babysitting job ever.

But then all of the sudden-it was game time. Abi told me that we needed to throw coins on the bottom of the pool and pick them all up with one breath. I am not nautical.

Not only am I not the best swimmer, I’m also pretty terrible at holding my breath for any length of time. I whined, but Abi persisted that conversation wasn’t enough and that we had to play a game because it would create bonding between us and grow our friendship.

We laughed and played and I was glad that she had encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and showcase my weakness against my will.

Sometimes showcasing our weaknesses is the best thing we can do. I don’t particularly care that I’m not the best swimmer, but this year has pulled me out of my comfort zone in many ways and I began to feel weak in MANY areas that I once considered strengths.

Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.“ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Experiencing my weakness helped me to see a lot of areas where I had tried to be self-sufficient. I have discovered so many areas of my life in which I fought to control while marginalizing the authority and power of God.

As I have been seeing my weaknesses, I have felt guilt and anxiety for even having them. I so often forget the sufficiency of His grace. God has already forgiven these shortcomings in me. He knows my weaknesses better than I do and He still chooses to cover me with His love.

I am learning that as I confess my sins and weaknesses to God, I need to also receive His love and forgiveness. As I step increasingly outside of my comfort zone, I live the life I’m called to, a surrendered life in which God’s strength and power is made known.

Today I pray that you will bring your weaknesses before God and receive His acceptance. Who better to trust with our shortcomings than our God? His grace is sufficient. He deserves all the glory, praise, and honor. I’m so thankful to live the rest of my life experiencing my weaknesses so that I may live in God’s strength. May His strength be made known in each of our lives.